Grease flows down NRH street after spill
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - A spill at the Doskocil Food Service meat-packing plant in North Richland Hills sent grease and water flowing down the street around 1 a.m. Thursday.
A hazardous materials unit from the North East Fire Department Association, which serves 14 cities in northeast Tarrant County, responded to the incident in the 6300 block of Browning Court and had the spill contained within about 30 minutes, said Mike Rawson, an assistant chief with the North Richland Hills Fire Department.
The spill did not endanger the public, Rawson said.
“We just wanted to make sure we kept it from going down into the sewer system, which made it a lot easier to clean up,” he said.
An official with Doskocil refused to comment. The company is a subsidiary of Tyson Foods.
News from the Lone Star State
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DA for 3 counties resigning after DUI arrest
WICHITA FALLS, Texas (The Dallas Morning News/AP) - The district attorney for Montague, Archer and Clay counties said he plans to resign following his drunken driving arrest in Oklahoma.
Tim Cole was arrested in Madill, Okla., at the Lake Texoma Lodge on Wednesday morning, said a Marshall County Sheriff's Office official. His blood-alcohol level was tested at .15 percent, and he was carrying a weapon.
Cole said in a press release Wednesday that he will resign but did not say when.
"The last year has been one of great personal hardship for me, but there is no excuse for this behavior. It is a violation of the public trust in my office and, as soon as I am able to establish a law practice, I intend to offer my resignation," he said in the release.
Cole was involved in a domestic disturbance in early June with a Department of Public Safety trooper, but no one was arrested and no charges were filed.
Cole could not be reached for comment on the matter of his drunken driving arrest or resignation. Cole had be re-elected in the fall of 2004 to a four-year term.
The assistant district attorney, Jack McGaughey, told The Associated Press on Thursday that he did not know when Cole would resign or if the arrest would force Cole to do so.
In October Cole was set to try the murder case of Vickie Dawn Jackson, the former Nocona nurse accused of killing 10 patients. The case has been moved to San Angelo because of intense pretrial publicity.
Cole has won convictions in other high-profile cases, including the 1996 murder of Heather Rich, a 15-year-old Waurika, Okla., cheerleader and the 2001 murder of James Christmas, 76, and Ulaine Christmas, 79, by their grandson.
WICHITA FALLS, Texas (The Dallas Morning News/AP) - The district attorney for Montague, Archer and Clay counties said he plans to resign following his drunken driving arrest in Oklahoma.
Tim Cole was arrested in Madill, Okla., at the Lake Texoma Lodge on Wednesday morning, said a Marshall County Sheriff's Office official. His blood-alcohol level was tested at .15 percent, and he was carrying a weapon.
Cole said in a press release Wednesday that he will resign but did not say when.
"The last year has been one of great personal hardship for me, but there is no excuse for this behavior. It is a violation of the public trust in my office and, as soon as I am able to establish a law practice, I intend to offer my resignation," he said in the release.
Cole was involved in a domestic disturbance in early June with a Department of Public Safety trooper, but no one was arrested and no charges were filed.
Cole could not be reached for comment on the matter of his drunken driving arrest or resignation. Cole had be re-elected in the fall of 2004 to a four-year term.
The assistant district attorney, Jack McGaughey, told The Associated Press on Thursday that he did not know when Cole would resign or if the arrest would force Cole to do so.
In October Cole was set to try the murder case of Vickie Dawn Jackson, the former Nocona nurse accused of killing 10 patients. The case has been moved to San Angelo because of intense pretrial publicity.
Cole has won convictions in other high-profile cases, including the 1996 murder of Heather Rich, a 15-year-old Waurika, Okla., cheerleader and the 2001 murder of James Christmas, 76, and Ulaine Christmas, 79, by their grandson.
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Drownings follow consistent pattern
By EMILY GOLDSTEIN / The Dallas Morning News
It has happened to her more than 20 times, yet Dr. Maeve Sheehan never forgets the faces of the children who died after being pulled from water.
“It’s a child that looks perfect – hasn’t got a bruise, hasn’t got a bump,” said Dr. Sheehan, a pediatric intensive care physician at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. “And that child doesn’t wake up and doesn’t go home.”
It’s a scene that has become frighteningly familiar in North Texas. At least 11 people, four of them children, have drowned accidentally since mid-May. And experts say the pattern generally has been consistent: children lose their lives in swimming pools, while adults are more likely to drown in open water, like a lake.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second-leading cause of injury-related death among children ages 1 to 14.
Adults are not immune to fatal water accidents, although they are less common. One water safety organization reports that in Texas, nearly 300 people die by drowning each year.
“We’ve had a lot of drownings for the start of the season,” said Capt. Garry Collins of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dallas District.
Experts cite several reasons for the disparities between pool and lake accidents: Adults are more likely to protect children in open water, but may not wear life jackets themselves. They ride personal watercraft without training. Alcohol impairs their judgment.
Pools are more accessible to children. Parents have a false sense of security about their ability to keep track of youngsters. And they are under the mistaken impression that children splash and scream when they are struggling, when actually they slip under the water noiselessly, experts said.
“In home pools, people get really comfortable with their surroundings, and so you kind of let your guard down a little bit,” said Claudia Romo, a health educator at Children’s Medical Center.
Never letting down their guard is the message that Dr. Steven Crow, a Richardson pediatrician, hammers home to parents. After losing nine children in his practice to drowning over 15 years, he began discussing the dangers of water with parents of 18-month-olds.
Parents should “never leave their kid at a home where there’s a pool,” said Dr. Crow, who added that he has not lost a child since he began lecturing the adults 15 years ago. “If they’re not there, their kid shouldn’t be there. And if they are there, they should be watching their kid.”
Dr. Crow stresses that parents should never allow other people, even family members, to care for their children around water and they should always accompany children to events where swimming is involved. He cautions that attentive parents still make mistakes, noting that one of his patients who nearly drowned is the child of another pediatrician. He also warns parents that although children are most likely to drown in pools, they also find danger all over the house, including bathtubs and toilets.
Said Dr. Sheehan: “It takes almost no water for children to drown.”
Children’s Medical Center has partnered with the YMCA of Dallas, American Red Cross Dallas and a hospital-based injury-prevention coalition to teach the public about water safety through a program called “Know Before You Go.”
The organizations have staged mock drownings at Lake Lewisville and the Cornerstone Chase apartment complex in Dallas to illustrate how the accidents unfold in both lakes and pools.
As part of “Know Before You Go,” Dallas police Officer Joe Gomez is sharing the story about his 3-year-old son, Christopher, who slipped under water in a hotel hot tub earlier this year while in his grandfather’s care.
“We were trying to relay a message about how fast these things can happen and that everybody’s vulnerable to it,” Officer Gomez said. Although an adult was nearby, “nobody even saw it happen” and the boy was not breathing when he was pulled from the water.
While Christopher suffered no permanent physical damage, “he gets a little freaked out when he’s around pools of water,” Officer Gomez said, adding that the child now refers to pools as “black holes.”
As a part of keeping kids safe around pools, Ms. Romo and others encourage homeowners to install “layers of protection,” which include fencing around all sides of the pool, double-latching gates, power safety pool covers and pool alarms.
“The kiss of death in Dallas is the unfenced pool and the sliding glass door,” Dr. Crow said.
When the pool is not being used, toys and rafts should be kept out of the water so children are less tempted to jump in, said Betsy Edmond, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross’ Dallas chapter.
Educators in the “Know Before You Go” program advocate the use of a “water-watcher,” an adult whose sole responsibility is to watch children in the water. Even when multiple adults are present, they can get distracted if they are socializing.
“Somebody always thinks someone else is watching the children,” said Paula Yuma, injury prevention program manager at Children’s Medical Center. “It can take less than 20 seconds for a child to become fully submerged.”
The Red Cross recommends that pool areas be equipped with safety equipment, like a pole, rope and personal floatation device, as well as instructions on performing CPR. A phone should be kept nearby in case of emergency. And adults should know to “absolutely check the pool first” if a child goes missing, Ms. Edmond said.
Ms. Romo said children are generally ready for swimming lessons at age 5. Before then, they should use a personal flotation device approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Parents should note the difference between approved life jackets and other devices, like water wings, that aren’t meant to save lives.
On lakes, children under 13 are required to wear life jackets, said Robert E. Nelson II, spokesman for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. But adults may avoid them, usually saying that they’re uncomfortable.
Mr. Nelson said newer life jackets that thin and inflate only when they touch water are more expensive, but more comfortable. He pointed out that in most drowning incidents, the victim is within 12 feet of safety.
Mr. Nelson compares the campaign to promote life jackets to the successful crusade to get people to use seat belts. He said the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary wants life jackets to become as commonplace as seat belts, and is attempting to get boating and fishing trade magazines to portray more people wearing them.
“Wear a life jacket,” Capt. Collins said. “It floats and you don’t.”
And don’t mix booze and boats. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, alcohol is involved in 30 percent to 50 percent of adolescent and adult drowning incidents.
Capt. Collins said alcohol gives people a “Superman” mentality, and they tend to overestimate their abilities, make bad decisions and tire faster.
No matter how many drowning victims Dr. Sheehan treats, the process never gets easier.
“People don’t get immune to the sort of sadness of all this, which is good because it keeps us human,” she said.
The parents of children who drowned often endure more feelings of anger and guilt than moms and dads of other accident victims because they wish they had done something differently.
“It’s so hard to live with yourself if someone has drowned,” Dr. Sheehan said, “and it’s completely preventable.”
By EMILY GOLDSTEIN / The Dallas Morning News
It has happened to her more than 20 times, yet Dr. Maeve Sheehan never forgets the faces of the children who died after being pulled from water.
“It’s a child that looks perfect – hasn’t got a bruise, hasn’t got a bump,” said Dr. Sheehan, a pediatric intensive care physician at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. “And that child doesn’t wake up and doesn’t go home.”
It’s a scene that has become frighteningly familiar in North Texas. At least 11 people, four of them children, have drowned accidentally since mid-May. And experts say the pattern generally has been consistent: children lose their lives in swimming pools, while adults are more likely to drown in open water, like a lake.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second-leading cause of injury-related death among children ages 1 to 14.
Adults are not immune to fatal water accidents, although they are less common. One water safety organization reports that in Texas, nearly 300 people die by drowning each year.
“We’ve had a lot of drownings for the start of the season,” said Capt. Garry Collins of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dallas District.
Experts cite several reasons for the disparities between pool and lake accidents: Adults are more likely to protect children in open water, but may not wear life jackets themselves. They ride personal watercraft without training. Alcohol impairs their judgment.
Pools are more accessible to children. Parents have a false sense of security about their ability to keep track of youngsters. And they are under the mistaken impression that children splash and scream when they are struggling, when actually they slip under the water noiselessly, experts said.
“In home pools, people get really comfortable with their surroundings, and so you kind of let your guard down a little bit,” said Claudia Romo, a health educator at Children’s Medical Center.
Never letting down their guard is the message that Dr. Steven Crow, a Richardson pediatrician, hammers home to parents. After losing nine children in his practice to drowning over 15 years, he began discussing the dangers of water with parents of 18-month-olds.
Parents should “never leave their kid at a home where there’s a pool,” said Dr. Crow, who added that he has not lost a child since he began lecturing the adults 15 years ago. “If they’re not there, their kid shouldn’t be there. And if they are there, they should be watching their kid.”
Dr. Crow stresses that parents should never allow other people, even family members, to care for their children around water and they should always accompany children to events where swimming is involved. He cautions that attentive parents still make mistakes, noting that one of his patients who nearly drowned is the child of another pediatrician. He also warns parents that although children are most likely to drown in pools, they also find danger all over the house, including bathtubs and toilets.
Said Dr. Sheehan: “It takes almost no water for children to drown.”
Children’s Medical Center has partnered with the YMCA of Dallas, American Red Cross Dallas and a hospital-based injury-prevention coalition to teach the public about water safety through a program called “Know Before You Go.”
The organizations have staged mock drownings at Lake Lewisville and the Cornerstone Chase apartment complex in Dallas to illustrate how the accidents unfold in both lakes and pools.
As part of “Know Before You Go,” Dallas police Officer Joe Gomez is sharing the story about his 3-year-old son, Christopher, who slipped under water in a hotel hot tub earlier this year while in his grandfather’s care.
“We were trying to relay a message about how fast these things can happen and that everybody’s vulnerable to it,” Officer Gomez said. Although an adult was nearby, “nobody even saw it happen” and the boy was not breathing when he was pulled from the water.
While Christopher suffered no permanent physical damage, “he gets a little freaked out when he’s around pools of water,” Officer Gomez said, adding that the child now refers to pools as “black holes.”
As a part of keeping kids safe around pools, Ms. Romo and others encourage homeowners to install “layers of protection,” which include fencing around all sides of the pool, double-latching gates, power safety pool covers and pool alarms.
“The kiss of death in Dallas is the unfenced pool and the sliding glass door,” Dr. Crow said.
When the pool is not being used, toys and rafts should be kept out of the water so children are less tempted to jump in, said Betsy Edmond, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross’ Dallas chapter.
Educators in the “Know Before You Go” program advocate the use of a “water-watcher,” an adult whose sole responsibility is to watch children in the water. Even when multiple adults are present, they can get distracted if they are socializing.
“Somebody always thinks someone else is watching the children,” said Paula Yuma, injury prevention program manager at Children’s Medical Center. “It can take less than 20 seconds for a child to become fully submerged.”
The Red Cross recommends that pool areas be equipped with safety equipment, like a pole, rope and personal floatation device, as well as instructions on performing CPR. A phone should be kept nearby in case of emergency. And adults should know to “absolutely check the pool first” if a child goes missing, Ms. Edmond said.
Ms. Romo said children are generally ready for swimming lessons at age 5. Before then, they should use a personal flotation device approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Parents should note the difference between approved life jackets and other devices, like water wings, that aren’t meant to save lives.
On lakes, children under 13 are required to wear life jackets, said Robert E. Nelson II, spokesman for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. But adults may avoid them, usually saying that they’re uncomfortable.
Mr. Nelson said newer life jackets that thin and inflate only when they touch water are more expensive, but more comfortable. He pointed out that in most drowning incidents, the victim is within 12 feet of safety.
Mr. Nelson compares the campaign to promote life jackets to the successful crusade to get people to use seat belts. He said the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary wants life jackets to become as commonplace as seat belts, and is attempting to get boating and fishing trade magazines to portray more people wearing them.
“Wear a life jacket,” Capt. Collins said. “It floats and you don’t.”
And don’t mix booze and boats. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, alcohol is involved in 30 percent to 50 percent of adolescent and adult drowning incidents.
Capt. Collins said alcohol gives people a “Superman” mentality, and they tend to overestimate their abilities, make bad decisions and tire faster.
No matter how many drowning victims Dr. Sheehan treats, the process never gets easier.
“People don’t get immune to the sort of sadness of all this, which is good because it keeps us human,” she said.
The parents of children who drowned often endure more feelings of anger and guilt than moms and dads of other accident victims because they wish they had done something differently.
“It’s so hard to live with yourself if someone has drowned,” Dr. Sheehan said, “and it’s completely preventable.”
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TexasStooge
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3 found dead in Kerr County
KERRVILLE, Texas (The Dallas Morning News/AP) – Authorities called to a mobile home after a child said she could not wake up her mother or brother found the two dead Wednesday, the Kerr County Sheriff's Department said. The young girl was placed in the custody of Child Protective Services.
The cause of death had not been determined but the deaths were being treated as homicides. Meanwhile, authorities searching for a suspect in the deaths found a body in the woman's burned out car in another area of the county, authorities said.
The Sheriff's Department identified the victims in the mobile home as Tina Marie Clark, 32, and her 13-year-old son, Derek T. Lackey.
Kerr County Chief Deputy Clay Barton said dental records would be needed to identify the body in the car, the Kerrville Daily Times reported in its Thursday editions.
Barton said authorities were called to the family's home in south Kerr County shortly before 11 a.m. They found the body of a 32-year-old woman and her teenage son. Neighbors told the newspaper the woman's daughter was 5 or 6.
The woman had lived in the home for about four years, neighbor Steve Meuller told the newspaper.
KERRVILLE, Texas (The Dallas Morning News/AP) – Authorities called to a mobile home after a child said she could not wake up her mother or brother found the two dead Wednesday, the Kerr County Sheriff's Department said. The young girl was placed in the custody of Child Protective Services.
The cause of death had not been determined but the deaths were being treated as homicides. Meanwhile, authorities searching for a suspect in the deaths found a body in the woman's burned out car in another area of the county, authorities said.
The Sheriff's Department identified the victims in the mobile home as Tina Marie Clark, 32, and her 13-year-old son, Derek T. Lackey.
Kerr County Chief Deputy Clay Barton said dental records would be needed to identify the body in the car, the Kerrville Daily Times reported in its Thursday editions.
Barton said authorities were called to the family's home in south Kerr County shortly before 11 a.m. They found the body of a 32-year-old woman and her teenage son. Neighbors told the newspaper the woman's daughter was 5 or 6.
The woman had lived in the home for about four years, neighbor Steve Meuller told the newspaper.
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TexasStooge
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Committee takes on city code puzzles
Oak Cliff: Chamber asks officials to recognize one size doesn't fit all
By FRANK TREJO / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Some developers looking to take advantage of Oak Cliff's abundance of older structures are running into unexpected obstacles – from parking and landscaping requirements to confusing regulations – that they say cause unnecessary delays, expense and headaches.
One developer had to restripe a parking lot three times before it was approved; another had to plant small trees directly under a huge 100-year-old one; and another can't use the commercial building she bought because the city says it doesn't have enough parking spaces.
These examples are among the concerns a committee from the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce is looking at to identify Dallas city ordinances and procedures that could be hampering business development, especially south of Interstate 30.
The chamber's Business Development Advocacy Committee met recently with Dallas city officials to begin talks intended not only to change city ordinances but also to bring improvements in services such as building permits and inspections.
"What we're saying is let's develop a process that will put some common sense back into our codes and acknowledge that one size doesn't fit all," said committee chairman Bob Stimson. "We need to recognize that sometimes there's going to be circumstances that don't quite fit into the codes, and it doesn't make sense to follow that."
Mr. Stimson, a developer and former Dallas City Council member, said the Oak Cliff chamber created the development advocacy committee after months of discussions with developers, businesses people, engineers and community residents.
The committee's efforts are good news for business people like Tony Font and Robert Gutierrez, who have been attempting to open a soda pop store in the Bishop Arts District.
The Oak Cliff residents said they had hoped to open The Soda Gallery in the same spot where a previous soda and tobacco store had stood just months earlier. The two men poured their savings into the venture and planned to open in April to take advantage of spring and summer holidays.
Instead, Mr. Font said, they got months of failed inspections amid confusing, contradictory and incomplete information about building permits and requirements. The Soda Gallery finally received a temporary certificate of occupancy on Monday and should be open in a couple of weeks, Mr. Font said.
"We love Oak Cliff," he said. "I've lived here since 1984. But if I'd known what we were going to have to go through, we probably would have gone somewhere else, probably not in the city of Dallas."
Ryan Evans, assistant city manager for economic development, said the committee's concerns and recommendations are in line with what the city already is considering. He said that general issues of landscaping and parking were part of the city's Forward Dallas comprehensive plan, and now that the plan has been approved, it is time to tackle individual issues.
He said the city is aware that requiring things like excessive parking is not only a financial burden on developers but also hurts the environment in some cases.
A five-page report submitted to city officials by the committee notes that tree and landscaping ordinances don't allow for consideration of the large number of trees already in Oak Cliff, or how the development will look.
Oak Cliff: Chamber asks officials to recognize one size doesn't fit all
By FRANK TREJO / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Some developers looking to take advantage of Oak Cliff's abundance of older structures are running into unexpected obstacles – from parking and landscaping requirements to confusing regulations – that they say cause unnecessary delays, expense and headaches.
One developer had to restripe a parking lot three times before it was approved; another had to plant small trees directly under a huge 100-year-old one; and another can't use the commercial building she bought because the city says it doesn't have enough parking spaces.
These examples are among the concerns a committee from the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce is looking at to identify Dallas city ordinances and procedures that could be hampering business development, especially south of Interstate 30.
The chamber's Business Development Advocacy Committee met recently with Dallas city officials to begin talks intended not only to change city ordinances but also to bring improvements in services such as building permits and inspections.
"What we're saying is let's develop a process that will put some common sense back into our codes and acknowledge that one size doesn't fit all," said committee chairman Bob Stimson. "We need to recognize that sometimes there's going to be circumstances that don't quite fit into the codes, and it doesn't make sense to follow that."
Mr. Stimson, a developer and former Dallas City Council member, said the Oak Cliff chamber created the development advocacy committee after months of discussions with developers, businesses people, engineers and community residents.
The committee's efforts are good news for business people like Tony Font and Robert Gutierrez, who have been attempting to open a soda pop store in the Bishop Arts District.
The Oak Cliff residents said they had hoped to open The Soda Gallery in the same spot where a previous soda and tobacco store had stood just months earlier. The two men poured their savings into the venture and planned to open in April to take advantage of spring and summer holidays.
Instead, Mr. Font said, they got months of failed inspections amid confusing, contradictory and incomplete information about building permits and requirements. The Soda Gallery finally received a temporary certificate of occupancy on Monday and should be open in a couple of weeks, Mr. Font said.
"We love Oak Cliff," he said. "I've lived here since 1984. But if I'd known what we were going to have to go through, we probably would have gone somewhere else, probably not in the city of Dallas."
Ryan Evans, assistant city manager for economic development, said the committee's concerns and recommendations are in line with what the city already is considering. He said that general issues of landscaping and parking were part of the city's Forward Dallas comprehensive plan, and now that the plan has been approved, it is time to tackle individual issues.
He said the city is aware that requiring things like excessive parking is not only a financial burden on developers but also hurts the environment in some cases.
A five-page report submitted to city officials by the committee notes that tree and landscaping ordinances don't allow for consideration of the large number of trees already in Oak Cliff, or how the development will look.
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UNT names sole finalist for presidency
By JAMES M. O'NEILL / The Dallas Morning News
DENTON, Texas - The top academic official for the University of North Carolina system has been tapped as the sole finalist to be the next president of the University of North Texas in Denton.
Dr. Gretchen M. Bataille, 61, a scholar of Native American literature with a vast background as an academic administrator on campuses across the country, is poised to become UNT's 14th president, and the first woman to hold that post.
Dr. Bataille would replace Dr. Norval Pohl, who decided last summer to step down as UNT president at the end of August.
"I am confident Dr. Bataille has the background to strengthen UNT's academic and research vision and the personal skills to be a very effective campus and community leader," said UNT system chancellor Lee Jackson in a statement. He noted that she would bring "a national perspective to the challnges facing higher education."
Her national perspective is culled not only from her six years as the top academic official of the 16-campus North Carolina system, one of the more prestigious in the country, but also in her role as the vice chair and a trustee of the College Board, the confederation of universities across the country that administers the SAT exam.
Dr. Bataille said she was excited at the chance to lead UNT and try to boost its national profile. "UNT has a long history of serving the North Texas region, and with the strength of its faculty and students it's well positioned to be better recognized nationally and internationally," she said in a statement. "It will be my responsibility to ensure the university achieves the level of prominence it deserves."
At UNC, Dr. bataille led academic planning efforts for all 16 UNC campuses, which combined enroll 196,000 students. Her job included oversight of strategic planning and budgeting, research, student affairs, international programs and advising the UNC system president on academic issues.
She has spent much of her career focused on the issues of diversity, civil rights and ethnic studies. For a time she chaired the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, and wrote the grant that created the American Indian Institute at Arizona State University. While at ASU, she also chaired a presidential committee on assessing quality and diversity. During her time as an English department at Iowa State University, she initiated and chaired the school's American Indian Studies program.
She was provost - the top academic officer - at Washington State University, and provost of the College of Letters and Science at the University of California at Santa Barbara. She served as a dean at Arizona State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and was chair of its English department.
Dr. Bataille, a native of Indiana, earned her bachelor's degree and master's degree from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, and a doctorate in English from Drake University.
She is a widow and the mother of a daughter and son, both grown.
Before the UNT system's trustees can actually elect her president, Texas law requires a 21-day waiting period after her announcement as the sole finalist for the job.
By JAMES M. O'NEILL / The Dallas Morning News
DENTON, Texas - The top academic official for the University of North Carolina system has been tapped as the sole finalist to be the next president of the University of North Texas in Denton.
Dr. Gretchen M. Bataille, 61, a scholar of Native American literature with a vast background as an academic administrator on campuses across the country, is poised to become UNT's 14th president, and the first woman to hold that post.
Dr. Bataille would replace Dr. Norval Pohl, who decided last summer to step down as UNT president at the end of August.
"I am confident Dr. Bataille has the background to strengthen UNT's academic and research vision and the personal skills to be a very effective campus and community leader," said UNT system chancellor Lee Jackson in a statement. He noted that she would bring "a national perspective to the challnges facing higher education."
Her national perspective is culled not only from her six years as the top academic official of the 16-campus North Carolina system, one of the more prestigious in the country, but also in her role as the vice chair and a trustee of the College Board, the confederation of universities across the country that administers the SAT exam.
Dr. Bataille said she was excited at the chance to lead UNT and try to boost its national profile. "UNT has a long history of serving the North Texas region, and with the strength of its faculty and students it's well positioned to be better recognized nationally and internationally," she said in a statement. "It will be my responsibility to ensure the university achieves the level of prominence it deserves."
At UNC, Dr. bataille led academic planning efforts for all 16 UNC campuses, which combined enroll 196,000 students. Her job included oversight of strategic planning and budgeting, research, student affairs, international programs and advising the UNC system president on academic issues.
She has spent much of her career focused on the issues of diversity, civil rights and ethnic studies. For a time she chaired the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, and wrote the grant that created the American Indian Institute at Arizona State University. While at ASU, she also chaired a presidential committee on assessing quality and diversity. During her time as an English department at Iowa State University, she initiated and chaired the school's American Indian Studies program.
She was provost - the top academic officer - at Washington State University, and provost of the College of Letters and Science at the University of California at Santa Barbara. She served as a dean at Arizona State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and was chair of its English department.
Dr. Bataille, a native of Indiana, earned her bachelor's degree and master's degree from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, and a doctorate in English from Drake University.
She is a widow and the mother of a daughter and son, both grown.
Before the UNT system's trustees can actually elect her president, Texas law requires a 21-day waiting period after her announcement as the sole finalist for the job.
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Suspect sought in Richardson bank robbery
RICHARDSON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/The Dallas Morning News) - Authorities are looking for a man who allegedly robbed a bank in east Richardson Wednesday afternoon.
Richardson police Sgt. David Glenn said the suspect entered the Guaranty Bank in the 1400 block of East Belt Line Road around 1 p.m. Wednesday. He presented a note to the teller who gave him the cash he demanded, and left. No one was injured during the robbery.
The suspect, who police believe may be responsible for other bank robberies in the area, is a man between 25 and 30 years old, approximately 5 feet, 4 inches tall with a medium build. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a burnt orange or gold hat, a white shirt and blue jogging pants, Sgt. Glenn said.
He reportedly left the bank in a red midsize vehicle with Texas license plate M57-CYG. This car was reported stolen in Dallas in June.
Anyone with information is asked to call Richardson police at 972-744-4800 or the FBI’s Dallas office at 972-559-5000.
RICHARDSON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/The Dallas Morning News) - Authorities are looking for a man who allegedly robbed a bank in east Richardson Wednesday afternoon.
Richardson police Sgt. David Glenn said the suspect entered the Guaranty Bank in the 1400 block of East Belt Line Road around 1 p.m. Wednesday. He presented a note to the teller who gave him the cash he demanded, and left. No one was injured during the robbery.
The suspect, who police believe may be responsible for other bank robberies in the area, is a man between 25 and 30 years old, approximately 5 feet, 4 inches tall with a medium build. At the time of the robbery, he was wearing a burnt orange or gold hat, a white shirt and blue jogging pants, Sgt. Glenn said.
He reportedly left the bank in a red midsize vehicle with Texas license plate M57-CYG. This car was reported stolen in Dallas in June.
Anyone with information is asked to call Richardson police at 972-744-4800 or the FBI’s Dallas office at 972-559-5000.
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TexasStooge
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Red light cameras having positive effect in Garland
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
GARLAND, Texas -- At more Garland intersections, there is no escaping the lens of cameras set up to catch red light runners.
Maria Rios paid a $75 fine at Garland's municipal court. "I just didn't know that I went through it, until I got the ticket in the mail," said Rios. The city set up a special window just to handle those tickets.
"It's being effective, we've seen the number of crashes at monitored intersections drop tremendously," said Dorothy White, of the City of Garland.
The city began its safelight program in 2003 with 4 cameras. Since then crashes caused by red-light runners have dropped by more than half at monitored intersections.
It seems drivers are getting the picture to stop.
In its first year, Garland recorded 42,000 red-light violations. The following year the violations dropped by 21 percent, down almost 9,000.
The safer roads are coming at a cost. "Once the cameras are up and in place, and people realize they are there and the revenues start going down, we expect that, we want that to happen," said
The city has collected $3 million in fines.
It’s used that money to improve public safety projects, like new L.E.D. traffic signals. Plus the police department has ordered a $2.5 million dollar helicopter.
Although some newly elected city council members worry the helicopter is too much, since the state legislature may soon take a chunk of the money from red light cameras.
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
GARLAND, Texas -- At more Garland intersections, there is no escaping the lens of cameras set up to catch red light runners.
Maria Rios paid a $75 fine at Garland's municipal court. "I just didn't know that I went through it, until I got the ticket in the mail," said Rios. The city set up a special window just to handle those tickets.
"It's being effective, we've seen the number of crashes at monitored intersections drop tremendously," said Dorothy White, of the City of Garland.
The city began its safelight program in 2003 with 4 cameras. Since then crashes caused by red-light runners have dropped by more than half at monitored intersections.
It seems drivers are getting the picture to stop.
In its first year, Garland recorded 42,000 red-light violations. The following year the violations dropped by 21 percent, down almost 9,000.
The safer roads are coming at a cost. "Once the cameras are up and in place, and people realize they are there and the revenues start going down, we expect that, we want that to happen," said
The city has collected $3 million in fines.
It’s used that money to improve public safety projects, like new L.E.D. traffic signals. Plus the police department has ordered a $2.5 million dollar helicopter.
Although some newly elected city council members worry the helicopter is too much, since the state legislature may soon take a chunk of the money from red light cameras.
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TexasStooge
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Sinkholes cause problems for drivers
By CHRIS HEINBAUGH / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas -- It was a rainy Wednesday when Yulandor Plater was driving to work. He saw a patch of water ahead.
“…I feel this big boom. And the front of my car goes down in this hole,” said Plater.
The rest of the car followed. He was stuck.
“I can't go forward, can't go backward. Water is coming up from under the car, I'm soaking wet,” said Plater. A broken water main created the hole, 4 by 7, and a foot deep. Other drivers hit it too.
“Actually scared me pretty good. I thought maybe I could've ran over someone I couldn't see,” said Plater.
Donald Bryant had to replace his blown out tire.
But it was Plater's tiny car that took the biggest hit, his tire also blew out. His bumpers, alignment, maybe even his car's frame was damaged too.
“I'm thinking it's easily $2500 to $3000,” said Plater. But when he called City Hall to file a claim, he was told that he would be denied because they don’t ever cover those kinds of damages.
The city attorney would not discuss the case without knowing specifics, but cities generally have “sovereign immunity” protecting them from most damage claims caused by broken water mains, potholes, and the like.
“The streets aren't my responsibility. It's the city's responsibility, so they should own up to it and at least pay the deductible for the insurance for the consumers who pay their bills. Pay the taxes,” said Plater.
If you wish to file damage claims, you can check out the city hall website at http://dallascityhall.org/htm/liability_claims.html.
By CHRIS HEINBAUGH / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas -- It was a rainy Wednesday when Yulandor Plater was driving to work. He saw a patch of water ahead.
“…I feel this big boom. And the front of my car goes down in this hole,” said Plater.
The rest of the car followed. He was stuck.
“I can't go forward, can't go backward. Water is coming up from under the car, I'm soaking wet,” said Plater. A broken water main created the hole, 4 by 7, and a foot deep. Other drivers hit it too.
“Actually scared me pretty good. I thought maybe I could've ran over someone I couldn't see,” said Plater.
Donald Bryant had to replace his blown out tire.
But it was Plater's tiny car that took the biggest hit, his tire also blew out. His bumpers, alignment, maybe even his car's frame was damaged too.
“I'm thinking it's easily $2500 to $3000,” said Plater. But when he called City Hall to file a claim, he was told that he would be denied because they don’t ever cover those kinds of damages.
The city attorney would not discuss the case without knowing specifics, but cities generally have “sovereign immunity” protecting them from most damage claims caused by broken water mains, potholes, and the like.
“The streets aren't my responsibility. It's the city's responsibility, so they should own up to it and at least pay the deductible for the insurance for the consumers who pay their bills. Pay the taxes,” said Plater.
If you wish to file damage claims, you can check out the city hall website at http://dallascityhall.org/htm/liability_claims.html.
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TexasStooge
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Former ball boy is sex offender
18-year-old worked with other kids while on probation
By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - An 18-year-old Richardson man who spent at least the last six years as a Dallas Mavericks ball boy has been a registered sex offender for the last year after a conviction for fondling a 5-year-old girl.
Scott Allen Bonds' status has been a matter of public record – his picture is on local, state and national sex offender databases – for nearly a year. But he was working with other Dallas Ballkids, apparently in violation of his original probation terms, as recently as the last basketball season.
Ballkids can range in age from 12 to 17 years old. They are usually required to attend Mavs Hoop Camps, where children are as young as 8.
"The minute we found out, we let him go," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said in an e-mail Thursday. "... In his job, he was never in an unsupervised situation, and his parents attended games and he would sit [with] them after his duties were completed.
"No one was ever at risk, and no harm ever occurred," Mr. Cuban said.
He declined to say exactly when Mr. Bonds was let go and declined to elaborate further.
Mr. Bonds' attorney, Robert Udashen, said the teen has not violated the terms of his probation.
"He hasn't done anything that his probation officers don't know about," he said.
Mr. Bonds was 16 in 2004 when he committed indecency with a child by sexual contact in Richardson, records show. The incident did not involve his work as a Mavs Ballkid.
A juvenile judge ordered Mr. Bonds to remain on probation for five years beginning in February 2005. Last year, his case was moved to the adult system, which must monitor him for the rest of his term.
One of the conditions of his probation is that he not go within 1,000 feet of any place where children under 13 gather, documents show.
"Nor will the defendant participate in ... any program or activity where children under the age of 13 may also be participating or spectators," court documents state.
If he violates his probation, he faces 10 years in prison.
Juvenile records are typically secret, but because of the nature of Mr. Bonds' crime, he must publicly register as a sex offender. This week, he moved to Waco to attend college and registered as a sex offender there.
Richardson police would not disclose the nature of the allegations but classified him as a moderate risk on their Web site.
Each year, 48 Ballkids are chosen from the standouts at the annual Mavs Hoop Camps. To be a Ballkid, the youngster must attend the camps.
Ballkids perform various jobs during home games, including handing out promotional items to fans and mopping the court to keep it dry.
Mr. Bonds was the Mavericks' youngest ball boy in 2000, when he was 13. The milestone was featured in The Dallas Morning News.
Neither the Mavericks nor his attorney would elaborate exactly on Mr. Bonds' attendance at last year's Hoop Camp or on how many games he subsequently worked during the 2005-06 season.
But Cory Dobbs, who has been a Mavs Ballkid for the last four years, said Thursday that Mr. Bonds attended Hoops Camp last summer and started the season as a Ballkid.
At one point, though, he stopped coming to games.
"When the playoffs came around, toward the end of the season, he didn't show up much," Mr. Dobbs said.
Rumors circulated about why. Someone went online and saw his sex offender profile.
Mr. Bonds' attorney, Mr. Udashen, would not elaborate on whether his client received special permission from either the probation department or the judge presiding over his case to continue working as a Ballkid, although he said that is not unheard of when dealing with sex offenders.
Regarding the mandate that he stay 1,000 feet from children, he said, "If it's applied in a literal, strict manner, it would keep the probationer from going anywhere," Mr. Udashen said.
"If you say that a registered sex offender can't go to the American Airlines [Center] or go to school or go to church, then they're just going to be confined to their house," he said.
"You're not talking about a situation where someone is in a room alone with some small child," Mr. Udashen said. "You're talking about large groups of people where there is adult supervision. It's not a situation where he would be alone with a child under the age of 13. That did not happen."
Mr. Bonds is not dangerous to children, Mr. Udashen said.
"He never was," he said. "He's successfully completed counseling. My client has worked very hard to put this behind him. It's what I would characterize as a youthful indiscretion. He shouldn't have to be punished for that for the rest of his life."
Mr. Dobbs, who has known Mr. Bonds for years, said he doesn't believe his friend is a danger.
"He's a Christ person," he said. "People are stupid. Stuff happens."
He said the Hoop Camps and the Ballkid program are safe and well run.
"We have a lot of staff," Mr. Dobbs said. "There's not any kids that are by themselves. There's always staff there. The kids are in no danger at all."
"These are great camps. I've been going since I was 9. You learn so much."
18-year-old worked with other kids while on probation
By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - An 18-year-old Richardson man who spent at least the last six years as a Dallas Mavericks ball boy has been a registered sex offender for the last year after a conviction for fondling a 5-year-old girl.
Scott Allen Bonds' status has been a matter of public record – his picture is on local, state and national sex offender databases – for nearly a year. But he was working with other Dallas Ballkids, apparently in violation of his original probation terms, as recently as the last basketball season.
Ballkids can range in age from 12 to 17 years old. They are usually required to attend Mavs Hoop Camps, where children are as young as 8.
"The minute we found out, we let him go," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said in an e-mail Thursday. "... In his job, he was never in an unsupervised situation, and his parents attended games and he would sit [with] them after his duties were completed.
"No one was ever at risk, and no harm ever occurred," Mr. Cuban said.
He declined to say exactly when Mr. Bonds was let go and declined to elaborate further.
Mr. Bonds' attorney, Robert Udashen, said the teen has not violated the terms of his probation.
"He hasn't done anything that his probation officers don't know about," he said.
Mr. Bonds was 16 in 2004 when he committed indecency with a child by sexual contact in Richardson, records show. The incident did not involve his work as a Mavs Ballkid.
A juvenile judge ordered Mr. Bonds to remain on probation for five years beginning in February 2005. Last year, his case was moved to the adult system, which must monitor him for the rest of his term.
One of the conditions of his probation is that he not go within 1,000 feet of any place where children under 13 gather, documents show.
"Nor will the defendant participate in ... any program or activity where children under the age of 13 may also be participating or spectators," court documents state.
If he violates his probation, he faces 10 years in prison.
Juvenile records are typically secret, but because of the nature of Mr. Bonds' crime, he must publicly register as a sex offender. This week, he moved to Waco to attend college and registered as a sex offender there.
Richardson police would not disclose the nature of the allegations but classified him as a moderate risk on their Web site.
Each year, 48 Ballkids are chosen from the standouts at the annual Mavs Hoop Camps. To be a Ballkid, the youngster must attend the camps.
Ballkids perform various jobs during home games, including handing out promotional items to fans and mopping the court to keep it dry.
Mr. Bonds was the Mavericks' youngest ball boy in 2000, when he was 13. The milestone was featured in The Dallas Morning News.
Neither the Mavericks nor his attorney would elaborate exactly on Mr. Bonds' attendance at last year's Hoop Camp or on how many games he subsequently worked during the 2005-06 season.
But Cory Dobbs, who has been a Mavs Ballkid for the last four years, said Thursday that Mr. Bonds attended Hoops Camp last summer and started the season as a Ballkid.
At one point, though, he stopped coming to games.
"When the playoffs came around, toward the end of the season, he didn't show up much," Mr. Dobbs said.
Rumors circulated about why. Someone went online and saw his sex offender profile.
Mr. Bonds' attorney, Mr. Udashen, would not elaborate on whether his client received special permission from either the probation department or the judge presiding over his case to continue working as a Ballkid, although he said that is not unheard of when dealing with sex offenders.
Regarding the mandate that he stay 1,000 feet from children, he said, "If it's applied in a literal, strict manner, it would keep the probationer from going anywhere," Mr. Udashen said.
"If you say that a registered sex offender can't go to the American Airlines [Center] or go to school or go to church, then they're just going to be confined to their house," he said.
"You're not talking about a situation where someone is in a room alone with some small child," Mr. Udashen said. "You're talking about large groups of people where there is adult supervision. It's not a situation where he would be alone with a child under the age of 13. That did not happen."
Mr. Bonds is not dangerous to children, Mr. Udashen said.
"He never was," he said. "He's successfully completed counseling. My client has worked very hard to put this behind him. It's what I would characterize as a youthful indiscretion. He shouldn't have to be punished for that for the rest of his life."
Mr. Dobbs, who has known Mr. Bonds for years, said he doesn't believe his friend is a danger.
"He's a Christ person," he said. "People are stupid. Stuff happens."
He said the Hoop Camps and the Ballkid program are safe and well run.
"We have a lot of staff," Mr. Dobbs said. "There's not any kids that are by themselves. There's always staff there. The kids are in no danger at all."
"These are great camps. I've been going since I was 9. You learn so much."
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TexasStooge
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2 indicted officers fired, bringing total to 14
Dallas: One is accused of sex assault; the other faces oppression charge
By HOLLY YAN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Two Dallas police officers were fired Thursday following recent criminal indictments.
Senior Cpl. Joe Ramos Jr., a nine-year veteran of the department, was indicted by an Ellis County grand jury June 21 on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by contact.
Officer Vincent Coleman, who was indicted on a felony oppression charge on June 23, was fired for, among other things, failing to remain alert while on duty and engaging in official oppression.
Cpl. Ramos' attorney, Phillip Hayes, did not return requests for comment.
Officer Coleman's attorney, Tom Pappas, said his client plans to appeal the termination.
"We look forward to pursuing reinstatement after the criminal charge is dismissed," Mr. Pappas said. "He's not guilty."
Including Thursday's two terminations, Chief David Kunkle has fired 14 officers since he began a housecleaning effort in June. Chief Kunkle was out of town Thursday.
First Assistant Chief David Brown said because of the criminal indictments of Cpl. Ramos and Officer Coleman, the department could not hesitate on their cases.
"With as large of an organization as we have, we know we'll have officers who make mistakes," Chief Brown said. "But there are certain mistakes you can't take back."
In October, a 6-year-old boy told his father that Cpl. Ramos performed oral sex on him, according to police accounts. The father reported the incident to police.
In March, an 8-year-old girl said Cpl. Ramos touched her inappropriately. When the girl's grandparents caught her looking up pornography on a computer, the girl said she had seen it at Cpl. Ramos' home.
The girl also said that when she went swimming at Cpl. Ramos' house, he would make her undress in front of him. The grandparents reported the case to police.
Cpl. Ramos was assigned to the personnel and development division and most recently investigated the backgrounds of police recruits.
Officer Coleman was indicted on the felony oppression charge on June 23.
A motorist claimed Officer Coleman forced her to perform a sexual act in exchange for not taking her to jail after she almost struck his squad car May 1 near the 2000 block of Overton Road.
"I asked the female, 'Why are you alone by yourself at this hour? Where is your boyfriend?' " Officer Coleman wrote in a statement to investigators.
Both said Officer Coleman sat down in the woman's vehicle. According to police reports, both told investigators that he asked her to follow him to a more private area near Lancaster Road and Interstate 20.
Officer Coleman admitted he intended to have sexual contact with the woman but said he did not go through with it.
Officer Coleman has been with the department for four years and was assigned to the Southeast Patrol Division, Cpl. Janice Crowther said.
Chief Brown said Chief Kunkle's housecleaning is meant to build public trust and elevate the department's standards.
"We're going to be transparent. It's so important, and I think the public expects it," Chief Brown said.
But he also hopes current and future officers will get a strong message from the firings.
"I hope it would embolden officers to feel good about the department they work for, that there are high standards set. I see it as a morale booster."
Dallas: One is accused of sex assault; the other faces oppression charge
By HOLLY YAN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Two Dallas police officers were fired Thursday following recent criminal indictments.
Senior Cpl. Joe Ramos Jr., a nine-year veteran of the department, was indicted by an Ellis County grand jury June 21 on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child by contact.
Officer Vincent Coleman, who was indicted on a felony oppression charge on June 23, was fired for, among other things, failing to remain alert while on duty and engaging in official oppression.
Cpl. Ramos' attorney, Phillip Hayes, did not return requests for comment.
Officer Coleman's attorney, Tom Pappas, said his client plans to appeal the termination.
"We look forward to pursuing reinstatement after the criminal charge is dismissed," Mr. Pappas said. "He's not guilty."
Including Thursday's two terminations, Chief David Kunkle has fired 14 officers since he began a housecleaning effort in June. Chief Kunkle was out of town Thursday.
First Assistant Chief David Brown said because of the criminal indictments of Cpl. Ramos and Officer Coleman, the department could not hesitate on their cases.
"With as large of an organization as we have, we know we'll have officers who make mistakes," Chief Brown said. "But there are certain mistakes you can't take back."
In October, a 6-year-old boy told his father that Cpl. Ramos performed oral sex on him, according to police accounts. The father reported the incident to police.
In March, an 8-year-old girl said Cpl. Ramos touched her inappropriately. When the girl's grandparents caught her looking up pornography on a computer, the girl said she had seen it at Cpl. Ramos' home.
The girl also said that when she went swimming at Cpl. Ramos' house, he would make her undress in front of him. The grandparents reported the case to police.
Cpl. Ramos was assigned to the personnel and development division and most recently investigated the backgrounds of police recruits.
Officer Coleman was indicted on the felony oppression charge on June 23.
A motorist claimed Officer Coleman forced her to perform a sexual act in exchange for not taking her to jail after she almost struck his squad car May 1 near the 2000 block of Overton Road.
"I asked the female, 'Why are you alone by yourself at this hour? Where is your boyfriend?' " Officer Coleman wrote in a statement to investigators.
Both said Officer Coleman sat down in the woman's vehicle. According to police reports, both told investigators that he asked her to follow him to a more private area near Lancaster Road and Interstate 20.
Officer Coleman admitted he intended to have sexual contact with the woman but said he did not go through with it.
Officer Coleman has been with the department for four years and was assigned to the Southeast Patrol Division, Cpl. Janice Crowther said.
Chief Brown said Chief Kunkle's housecleaning is meant to build public trust and elevate the department's standards.
"We're going to be transparent. It's so important, and I think the public expects it," Chief Brown said.
But he also hopes current and future officers will get a strong message from the firings.
"I hope it would embolden officers to feel good about the department they work for, that there are high standards set. I see it as a morale booster."
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TexasStooge
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Miller: My work is done
Kids need her, so mayor's race is out
By EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Mayor Laura Miller announced Thursday that she will not seek re-election in May, saying she's accomplished nearly all she wants to at Dallas City Hall and misses spending time with her children.
Now that her chief accomplishment – the Wright amendment compromise – and ironing out the details of the 2006 bond package are behind her, Ms. Miller said, she can't imagine campaigning and spending four more years in office.
"I'm desperate to be with my kids," she said. "My kids have always been in politics. They've always been in the limelight. This is about my quality of life, and theirs."
Although she's had setbacks as mayor, Ms. Miller last month reached what many saw as the apex of her political career: helping broker a compromise between Dallas and Fort Worth and American Airlines and Southwest Airlines on the decades-long battle over flight restrictions at Love Field.
It was an agreement she had sought since her early days as a City Council member, the No. 1 item on her to-do list.
And in what was arguably her brightest hour, Ms. Miller thrived on high-profile negotiations with airlines, legislators, and many of the region's key business leaders.
"It will be what she's remembered for – finally bringing an end to this debate," said Dallas businessman Tom Dunning, who has worked closely with the mayor on homeless and downtown issues despite losing to her in the 2002 mayoral race.
But that victory came on the heels of a rough year. Voters twice rejected referendums that would have given the Dallas mayor more power, a move Ms. Miller readily endorsed.
And her tenure became synonymous with discord on the City Council, as she took controversial and consistent stands against her colleagues around the horseshoe.
"Under the city manager form of government, there's not that much that the mayor can accomplish without the support of the council people," said Betty Culbreath, the mayor's appointee to the City Plan Commission and her most prominent black political ally. "I just think that it's a tug of war, and who wants to do that every day?"
A child's reasoning
Ms. Miller, speaking Thursday from the living room couch in her North Dallas home, said her decision not to run has nothing to do with her colleagues at City Hall – particularly southern-sector representatives with whom she's butted heads often in the last year.
And she said it isn't because she's fed up after the defeat of the strong-mayor referendums – though she acknowledged it's the single goal she was unable to accomplish.
"I could not do it, and I will not be able to do it," she said. "It's one thing this city really needs that I cannot change."
The mayor made up her mind not to run two months ago, she said, after an emotional discussion with her husband – former state Rep. Steve Wolens – and her children, ages 16, 14 and 11. The turning point came when one of her kids burst in and shouted, "Mom, if you run, you're throwing the towel in on our family."
"My head wanted to run, but my heart didn't let me," Ms. Miller said. "I had a childhood where my parents weren't often home. I knew if I were going to run again, I would wake up and two of my kids would be at college."
That may all be true, said Matthew Wilson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University. But he said it's also likely the mayor saw the writing on the wall after the failed strong-mayor elections, which many saw as referendums on Ms. Miller. Those elections saw record voter turnout from Dallas' southern sector, where Ms. Miller is unpopular.
"She may have seen a template for how she could lose a re-election bid," Dr. Wilson said. "Was she worrying she would have to fight a very energized, very hostile southern sector? It's not clear enthusiasm for her in North Dallas would be enough."
Ms. Miller said that's not the case. She said a poll of possible head-to-head contests with various candidates, conducted for her by consultant Rob Allyn's firm in January, showed "great results."
"I was very strong," she said. "But I've done the things I set out to do."
The underdog
Ms. Miller was first elected mayor in 2002 to serve the unexpired term of Ron Kirk, who resigned to make an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate.
The longtime reporter was elected to the City Council in 1998 to represent West Dallas and Oak Cliff. Despite her high name recognition, Ms. Miller was considered an underdog in the 2002 campaign against Mr. Dunning because he had the backing of the city's business elite and southern sector. But Ms. Miller won the abbreviated campaign by rolling up huge support in North Dallas on a platform of roads, parks and better police protection.
Ms. Miller says she's fulfilled those campaign promises. She led the charge to spend record dollars on road repairs, with about $365 million proposed in the 2006 bond program. She helped broker four new parks downtown, as well as a five-year extension of the Texas-Oklahoma Cotton Bowl contract. And the city has a new police chief and the first reduction in crime in all categories since 1993.
"She could not have been more supportive of the department or of me personally," said Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle. "She spent an inordinate amount of time on" public safety.
But there are some tasks she knows she's leaving unfinished: the Trinity River Project and Dallas' high, though dropping, crime rate.
In these areas, Ms. Miller says, she got the ball rolling. They'll be in good hands with the next mayor.
"Those are things other people can easily, skillfully do," she said. "I've changed as much as I can."
No election role
Ms. Miller's decision comes during the council's July recess, and few of her colleagues were available for comment Thursday night. But elected officials and business leaders alike said they were caught off guard by the announcement.
As recently as a month ago, Ms. Miller was "looking for support from the business community," Mr. Dunning said.
City Manager Mary Suhm and the mayor's own chief of staff said they weren't told until Thursday.
Ms. Miller said she knew she had to make a formal decision in the last month, when she started hearing from Dallas businesspeople who wanted to make generous contributions to her campaign fund.
She said she made Thursday's announcement "early enough to let lots of other people run" in her place.
And while she's not exactly sure what her future holds – aside from being home with her kids and cooking up a storm – she won't return to writing, she said, unless it's a fiction novel. She also hopes to run a marathon.
But the mayor knows one thing for certain: She won't be involved in May's election. She sees no front-runner, she said, and doesn't plan to endorse anyone.
Staff writers Gromer Jeffers Jr. and Scott Goldstein contributed to this report.
Kids need her, so mayor's race is out
By EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Mayor Laura Miller announced Thursday that she will not seek re-election in May, saying she's accomplished nearly all she wants to at Dallas City Hall and misses spending time with her children.
Now that her chief accomplishment – the Wright amendment compromise – and ironing out the details of the 2006 bond package are behind her, Ms. Miller said, she can't imagine campaigning and spending four more years in office.
"I'm desperate to be with my kids," she said. "My kids have always been in politics. They've always been in the limelight. This is about my quality of life, and theirs."
Although she's had setbacks as mayor, Ms. Miller last month reached what many saw as the apex of her political career: helping broker a compromise between Dallas and Fort Worth and American Airlines and Southwest Airlines on the decades-long battle over flight restrictions at Love Field.
It was an agreement she had sought since her early days as a City Council member, the No. 1 item on her to-do list.
And in what was arguably her brightest hour, Ms. Miller thrived on high-profile negotiations with airlines, legislators, and many of the region's key business leaders.
"It will be what she's remembered for – finally bringing an end to this debate," said Dallas businessman Tom Dunning, who has worked closely with the mayor on homeless and downtown issues despite losing to her in the 2002 mayoral race.
But that victory came on the heels of a rough year. Voters twice rejected referendums that would have given the Dallas mayor more power, a move Ms. Miller readily endorsed.
And her tenure became synonymous with discord on the City Council, as she took controversial and consistent stands against her colleagues around the horseshoe.
"Under the city manager form of government, there's not that much that the mayor can accomplish without the support of the council people," said Betty Culbreath, the mayor's appointee to the City Plan Commission and her most prominent black political ally. "I just think that it's a tug of war, and who wants to do that every day?"
A child's reasoning
Ms. Miller, speaking Thursday from the living room couch in her North Dallas home, said her decision not to run has nothing to do with her colleagues at City Hall – particularly southern-sector representatives with whom she's butted heads often in the last year.
And she said it isn't because she's fed up after the defeat of the strong-mayor referendums – though she acknowledged it's the single goal she was unable to accomplish.
"I could not do it, and I will not be able to do it," she said. "It's one thing this city really needs that I cannot change."
The mayor made up her mind not to run two months ago, she said, after an emotional discussion with her husband – former state Rep. Steve Wolens – and her children, ages 16, 14 and 11. The turning point came when one of her kids burst in and shouted, "Mom, if you run, you're throwing the towel in on our family."
"My head wanted to run, but my heart didn't let me," Ms. Miller said. "I had a childhood where my parents weren't often home. I knew if I were going to run again, I would wake up and two of my kids would be at college."
That may all be true, said Matthew Wilson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University. But he said it's also likely the mayor saw the writing on the wall after the failed strong-mayor elections, which many saw as referendums on Ms. Miller. Those elections saw record voter turnout from Dallas' southern sector, where Ms. Miller is unpopular.
"She may have seen a template for how she could lose a re-election bid," Dr. Wilson said. "Was she worrying she would have to fight a very energized, very hostile southern sector? It's not clear enthusiasm for her in North Dallas would be enough."
Ms. Miller said that's not the case. She said a poll of possible head-to-head contests with various candidates, conducted for her by consultant Rob Allyn's firm in January, showed "great results."
"I was very strong," she said. "But I've done the things I set out to do."
The underdog
Ms. Miller was first elected mayor in 2002 to serve the unexpired term of Ron Kirk, who resigned to make an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate.
The longtime reporter was elected to the City Council in 1998 to represent West Dallas and Oak Cliff. Despite her high name recognition, Ms. Miller was considered an underdog in the 2002 campaign against Mr. Dunning because he had the backing of the city's business elite and southern sector. But Ms. Miller won the abbreviated campaign by rolling up huge support in North Dallas on a platform of roads, parks and better police protection.
Ms. Miller says she's fulfilled those campaign promises. She led the charge to spend record dollars on road repairs, with about $365 million proposed in the 2006 bond program. She helped broker four new parks downtown, as well as a five-year extension of the Texas-Oklahoma Cotton Bowl contract. And the city has a new police chief and the first reduction in crime in all categories since 1993.
"She could not have been more supportive of the department or of me personally," said Dallas Police Chief David Kunkle. "She spent an inordinate amount of time on" public safety.
But there are some tasks she knows she's leaving unfinished: the Trinity River Project and Dallas' high, though dropping, crime rate.
In these areas, Ms. Miller says, she got the ball rolling. They'll be in good hands with the next mayor.
"Those are things other people can easily, skillfully do," she said. "I've changed as much as I can."
No election role
Ms. Miller's decision comes during the council's July recess, and few of her colleagues were available for comment Thursday night. But elected officials and business leaders alike said they were caught off guard by the announcement.
As recently as a month ago, Ms. Miller was "looking for support from the business community," Mr. Dunning said.
City Manager Mary Suhm and the mayor's own chief of staff said they weren't told until Thursday.
Ms. Miller said she knew she had to make a formal decision in the last month, when she started hearing from Dallas businesspeople who wanted to make generous contributions to her campaign fund.
She said she made Thursday's announcement "early enough to let lots of other people run" in her place.
And while she's not exactly sure what her future holds – aside from being home with her kids and cooking up a storm – she won't return to writing, she said, unless it's a fiction novel. She also hopes to run a marathon.
But the mayor knows one thing for certain: She won't be involved in May's election. She sees no front-runner, she said, and doesn't plan to endorse anyone.
Staff writers Gromer Jeffers Jr. and Scott Goldstein contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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Search resumes at Lake Lewisville for missing man
LEWISVILLE, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/The Dallas Morning News) - Authorities on Friday resumed the search for a 42-year-old man who disappeared while boating on Lake Lewisville.
Game wardens were called around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
“They were just enjoying the day, and he took his life jacket off, dove in the water, and didn’t resurface,” said Capt. Scott Haney of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Fort Worth district.
The Lewisville Police Department dive team and game wardens from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department plan to search throughout the day and into the evening if necessary, said Alissa Kaun, a spokeswoman for the town of Hickory Creek.
“We’re assuming he drowned,” Capt. Haney said. “I’ll have game wardens on the lake until we recover the body.”
At least seven people have drowned on North Texas lakes since mid-May.
LEWISVILLE, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/The Dallas Morning News) - Authorities on Friday resumed the search for a 42-year-old man who disappeared while boating on Lake Lewisville.
Game wardens were called around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
“They were just enjoying the day, and he took his life jacket off, dove in the water, and didn’t resurface,” said Capt. Scott Haney of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Fort Worth district.
The Lewisville Police Department dive team and game wardens from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department plan to search throughout the day and into the evening if necessary, said Alissa Kaun, a spokeswoman for the town of Hickory Creek.
“We’re assuming he drowned,” Capt. Haney said. “I’ll have game wardens on the lake until we recover the body.”
At least seven people have drowned on North Texas lakes since mid-May.
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TexasStooge
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Dog's instinct helped retrieve family from fire
Garland: She woke man after seeing smoke
By TOMI MAXTED / The Dallas Morning News
GARLAND, Texas - It was about 5 a.m. on Memorial Day when Shenandoah Silverheels-Zelis woke up to loud barking from his dog, Shaa.
When he looked outside, he saw a pillar of smoke rising from a townhouse across the street in his Garland neighborhood and ran to help. As a neighbor tried to douse the flames, Mr. Silverheels-Zelis hustled to alert residents of the danger.
The fire grew so fast that it blew out the window of a 4-year-old girl's room. "When I saw the fire hit that window, I knew [that's] where that girl slept. It freaked me out," Mr. Silverheels-Zelis said.
Mr. Silverheels-Zelis, who is partially deaf, frantically knocked on the townhouse's door to wake up residents Deborah Allen and Joe Jones.
"The smoke had us asleep. If it hadn't been for him knocking on our door, we might not have made it out the fire," Ms. Allen said.
A Garland Fire Department incident report says the fire started after a neighbor scooped coals from a charcoal grill into an aluminum container and set it on a wooden deck. The coals ignited the fire, which intensified when a nearby propane tank heated and blew up.
The fire caused significant damage to the home of Ms. Allen and Mr. Jones. "It burned up my dining set that sat behind the table near the window. It smoked and messed up all our beds and clothes," Ms. Allen said.
Shaa, a Labrador-Catahoula mix, is the reason that Mr. Silverheels-Zelis saw the fire. "She's looking out the window, and she's literally trying to go out the window," said Mr. Silverheels-Zelis, a great-great-nephew of Jay Silverheels, who played Tonto on The Lone Ranger TV series.
Shaa is undergoing personal training as an indoor dog for her hearing-impaired owner. The training started after Karen Deeds, regional representative of Paws With a Cause, recommended the book Lend Me an Ear to Shelley Robbins, Mr. Silverheels-Zelis' partner.
"It's a pretty good step-by-step on how to train a dog for hearing response," Mrs. Deeds said. "It is definitely not a substitute for somebody who knows how to train a dog."
Mrs. Deeds praised Shaa's work. "It's wonderful what they're doing with their dog. [They're] on the right track," she said.
Shaa is being taught fire training, and that helped her detect the neighborhood blaze, her owners said. She has learned to crawl in the event of a fire.
"I'm quite sure that since we've been practicing that, it's that instinct that clicked," Ms. Robbins said.
Garland: She woke man after seeing smoke
By TOMI MAXTED / The Dallas Morning News
GARLAND, Texas - It was about 5 a.m. on Memorial Day when Shenandoah Silverheels-Zelis woke up to loud barking from his dog, Shaa.
When he looked outside, he saw a pillar of smoke rising from a townhouse across the street in his Garland neighborhood and ran to help. As a neighbor tried to douse the flames, Mr. Silverheels-Zelis hustled to alert residents of the danger.
The fire grew so fast that it blew out the window of a 4-year-old girl's room. "When I saw the fire hit that window, I knew [that's] where that girl slept. It freaked me out," Mr. Silverheels-Zelis said.
Mr. Silverheels-Zelis, who is partially deaf, frantically knocked on the townhouse's door to wake up residents Deborah Allen and Joe Jones.
"The smoke had us asleep. If it hadn't been for him knocking on our door, we might not have made it out the fire," Ms. Allen said.
A Garland Fire Department incident report says the fire started after a neighbor scooped coals from a charcoal grill into an aluminum container and set it on a wooden deck. The coals ignited the fire, which intensified when a nearby propane tank heated and blew up.
The fire caused significant damage to the home of Ms. Allen and Mr. Jones. "It burned up my dining set that sat behind the table near the window. It smoked and messed up all our beds and clothes," Ms. Allen said.
Shaa, a Labrador-Catahoula mix, is the reason that Mr. Silverheels-Zelis saw the fire. "She's looking out the window, and she's literally trying to go out the window," said Mr. Silverheels-Zelis, a great-great-nephew of Jay Silverheels, who played Tonto on The Lone Ranger TV series.
Shaa is undergoing personal training as an indoor dog for her hearing-impaired owner. The training started after Karen Deeds, regional representative of Paws With a Cause, recommended the book Lend Me an Ear to Shelley Robbins, Mr. Silverheels-Zelis' partner.
"It's a pretty good step-by-step on how to train a dog for hearing response," Mrs. Deeds said. "It is definitely not a substitute for somebody who knows how to train a dog."
Mrs. Deeds praised Shaa's work. "It's wonderful what they're doing with their dog. [They're] on the right track," she said.
Shaa is being taught fire training, and that helped her detect the neighborhood blaze, her owners said. She has learned to crawl in the event of a fire.
"I'm quite sure that since we've been practicing that, it's that instinct that clicked," Ms. Robbins said.
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TexasStooge
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Bonds raised for men accused of killing sailor
By MATTHEW HAAG / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Two men accused of killing a sailor on leave from the Middle East, possibly lured by the flashy custom wheels on his pickup truck, had their bonds raised to $5 million during a pretrial hearing Friday.
County Criminal Court Judge Phil Barker said he decided to boost the $1 million bonds because of the defendants’ criminal records.
Itar Elan Kissentaner, 26, and Michael Dewayne Walton, 34, both face capital murder charges in the death of Petty Officer 2nd Class Kameron Pratt. If convicted, they could be sentenced to death or life in prison.
Both men were being held in the Dallas County jail.
Petty Officer Pratt, who was on two-week leave from his fourth tour in the Middle East, was three days away from reporting to duty. On the night of June 11, he was sitting in his parked F-150 Ford pickup, with sparkling 22-inch wheels, in the driveway of his house in Oak Cliff. A man ordered the 34-year-old out of his vehicle and shot him in the chest.
The bleeding man crawled up to the porch of his home in the 6100 block of Lake Placid Drive, where his brother found him semiconscious, called 911 and performed CPR. Minutes later, Petty Officer Pratt died.
In Friday morning testimony, Dallas police Detective Paul Ellzey said the suspects, in a gold Chevrolet pickup, trailed Petty Officer Pratt for several blocks and then pulled in behind his truck in the driveway. Mr. Kissentaner approached him with a question about getting directions to Hampton Road, and as the Navy officer began answering, Mr. Kissentaner shot him, Detective Ellzey said.
Two people sitting in the back seat of the Chevy, who are not being prosecuted, told police that Mr. Walton was the driver and Mr. Kissentaner the shooter, the detective testified.
Both men had previously been sentenced to 15 years in prison for various crimes. Mr. Walton served his full sentence for sex assault, three robberies, assault and auto theft. Mr. Kissentaner was given parole nearly two years ago for a robbery conviction.
The day after Petty Officer Pratt was killed, police found his truck. It had attempted to be set on fire, minus the $3,000 set of custom wheels. Police eventually found a dealer who had bought them for $1,000; sales records pointed to Mr. Kissentaner and Mr. Walton.
Police found Mr. Walton’s fingerprints on the wheels and took him into custody first. He cooperated with police in setting up Mr. Kissentaner’s arrest, Detective Ellzey said.
By MATTHEW HAAG / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Two men accused of killing a sailor on leave from the Middle East, possibly lured by the flashy custom wheels on his pickup truck, had their bonds raised to $5 million during a pretrial hearing Friday.
County Criminal Court Judge Phil Barker said he decided to boost the $1 million bonds because of the defendants’ criminal records.
Itar Elan Kissentaner, 26, and Michael Dewayne Walton, 34, both face capital murder charges in the death of Petty Officer 2nd Class Kameron Pratt. If convicted, they could be sentenced to death or life in prison.
Both men were being held in the Dallas County jail.
Petty Officer Pratt, who was on two-week leave from his fourth tour in the Middle East, was three days away from reporting to duty. On the night of June 11, he was sitting in his parked F-150 Ford pickup, with sparkling 22-inch wheels, in the driveway of his house in Oak Cliff. A man ordered the 34-year-old out of his vehicle and shot him in the chest.
The bleeding man crawled up to the porch of his home in the 6100 block of Lake Placid Drive, where his brother found him semiconscious, called 911 and performed CPR. Minutes later, Petty Officer Pratt died.
In Friday morning testimony, Dallas police Detective Paul Ellzey said the suspects, in a gold Chevrolet pickup, trailed Petty Officer Pratt for several blocks and then pulled in behind his truck in the driveway. Mr. Kissentaner approached him with a question about getting directions to Hampton Road, and as the Navy officer began answering, Mr. Kissentaner shot him, Detective Ellzey said.
Two people sitting in the back seat of the Chevy, who are not being prosecuted, told police that Mr. Walton was the driver and Mr. Kissentaner the shooter, the detective testified.
Both men had previously been sentenced to 15 years in prison for various crimes. Mr. Walton served his full sentence for sex assault, three robberies, assault and auto theft. Mr. Kissentaner was given parole nearly two years ago for a robbery conviction.
The day after Petty Officer Pratt was killed, police found his truck. It had attempted to be set on fire, minus the $3,000 set of custom wheels. Police eventually found a dealer who had bought them for $1,000; sales records pointed to Mr. Kissentaner and Mr. Walton.
Police found Mr. Walton’s fingerprints on the wheels and took him into custody first. He cooperated with police in setting up Mr. Kissentaner’s arrest, Detective Ellzey said.
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TexasStooge
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Texas jails target of terror hunt
By MARY ANN RAZZUK / WFAA ABC 8
HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- The hunt for terror suspects now taking place inside Texas prisons.
One of the few roads into a maximum security prison is through the doors of its tiny mail room.
Workers open every envelope to make sure only letters and pictures get through to inmates. But they're also looking for sinister plots tailor-made for killers who are looking for a job when they get out.
"If the money's right, they'll do almost anything. It could be another 9/11 just inside these letters. We just don't know until we get them translated," said Bobby Pittmon, a prison investigator.
About 300 Texas prison inmates correspond in foreign languages. After the 9/11 attacks, the prison in Huntsville installed a computer system that scans and stores letters to be translated and decoded by the FBI.
"It's a ripe environment for recruitment for any anti-government activities," said John Moriarty, prison inspector general.
Investigators inside the prison have uncovered suspicious literature, and even a videotape sent to inmates. A videotape was shown at a religious meeting, and even concerned other inmates.
"Several inmates brought it to security's attention and said: ‘Hey, this is kind of radical. We probably shouldn't be seeing this.’ and they confiscated the tape," said Pittmon.
Guards also seized copies of a document entitled "The Call to Jihad: Holy fighting for Allah's cause in the Koran".
Security concerns increased after California officials uncovered a plan hatched in the prison system allegedly targeting U.S. military installations.
According to investigators, any inmate is a possible candidate for a terrorist scheme, especially if they feel disenfranchised and blame their problems on the government.
"What's a terrorist anymore, what does a terrorist look like?" said Pittmon.
Investigators say what offenders may not know is that a road paved with promises outside the prison walls may ultimately wind up a dead end street.
Prison officials tells us they have not uncovered any legitimate threats. But they say federal authorities may not tell them if they find something in translated letters because the information could be deemed classified.
By MARY ANN RAZZUK / WFAA ABC 8
HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- The hunt for terror suspects now taking place inside Texas prisons.
One of the few roads into a maximum security prison is through the doors of its tiny mail room.
Workers open every envelope to make sure only letters and pictures get through to inmates. But they're also looking for sinister plots tailor-made for killers who are looking for a job when they get out.
"If the money's right, they'll do almost anything. It could be another 9/11 just inside these letters. We just don't know until we get them translated," said Bobby Pittmon, a prison investigator.
About 300 Texas prison inmates correspond in foreign languages. After the 9/11 attacks, the prison in Huntsville installed a computer system that scans and stores letters to be translated and decoded by the FBI.
"It's a ripe environment for recruitment for any anti-government activities," said John Moriarty, prison inspector general.
Investigators inside the prison have uncovered suspicious literature, and even a videotape sent to inmates. A videotape was shown at a religious meeting, and even concerned other inmates.
"Several inmates brought it to security's attention and said: ‘Hey, this is kind of radical. We probably shouldn't be seeing this.’ and they confiscated the tape," said Pittmon.
Guards also seized copies of a document entitled "The Call to Jihad: Holy fighting for Allah's cause in the Koran".
Security concerns increased after California officials uncovered a plan hatched in the prison system allegedly targeting U.S. military installations.
According to investigators, any inmate is a possible candidate for a terrorist scheme, especially if they feel disenfranchised and blame their problems on the government.
"What's a terrorist anymore, what does a terrorist look like?" said Pittmon.
Investigators say what offenders may not know is that a road paved with promises outside the prison walls may ultimately wind up a dead end street.
Prison officials tells us they have not uncovered any legitimate threats. But they say federal authorities may not tell them if they find something in translated letters because the information could be deemed classified.
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TexasStooge
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Teardown trend travels north
Bent Tree, Preston Trails homes built in the 1980s give way to bigger
By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - The teardown trend is spreading north of LBJ Freeway to neighborhoods built as recently as the 1980s.
Although such projects are familiar in Park Cities, North Dallas and East Dallas neighborhoods, they are new to Bent Tree and Preston Trails.
These Far North Dallas areas are now considered close in by some residents and homebuilders scouting construction opportunities.
Builder Jerry Stark recently knocked down a 4,800-square-foot Preston Trails house built in 1980 to construct a larger, more up-to-date model.
"The one we are building is 8,000 square feet or more," said Mr. Stark, who usually does re-modeling and building jobs in the Park Cities and North Dallas.
He said the house that was torn down had "very little redeeming qualities," but the location and large lot make the site perfect for a new custom home.
Other builders and homebuyers are coming to the same conclusion.
"What's happened is the availability of affordable building lots in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow has waned," said Ted Wilson, a housing analyst with Dallas-based Residential Strategies.
"You are seeing Park Cities teardowns over $1 million.
"It's causing the builders to scratch their heads and look for other locations," he said.
Residential Strategies has seen a steady increase in tear- down home construction north of LBJ Freeway in Northwood Hills and now in Bent Tree.
Residential Strategies has recorded about a dozen teardown projects in the Northwood Hills neighborhood alone since late last year, Mr. Wilson said.
"In Northeast Tarrant County in Southlake and Colleyville, it's happening, too," he said.
"They are buying ranch-style houses that were built in the 1960s, tearing them down and putting million-dollar homes up.
"It's all about convenience and location."
The location near Preston Road is what attracted Mr. Stark's clients to their teardown project in Preston Trails.
The house that was originally on the lot – once the home of a professional football player – was a quarter-century behind the times, he said.
"It was dreadful – two-thirds of the house was roof," Mr. Stark said.
"What we are building will be a Tudor-style house with stone and a slate roof."
In the next block, Dallas businessman Don Silverman and his family purchased a 4,700-square-foot house built in 1981 and have knocked most of it down.
"Other than the slab and some of the framing, everything is going to be new," Mr. Silverman said. "It would probably have been a better idea to just level it."
He said the new house will be almost double the size of the old and will be "sort of a country French" style.
The original home was "typical 1980s suburban Dallas – almost nondescript."
Mr. Silverman said the large lot, mature trees and location made the project attractive.
"There are lots of older, smaller houses in Bent Tree," he said. "They've knocked down some of them on the golf course.
"It's happening pretty much everywhere."
Akin Custom Homes is constructing a house on the vacant lot next door to the Silvermans on Preston Trail.
"It's a custom job," said George Akin. "The lot had been there for a while, and the house will be about 8,000 square feet."
Such empty parcels are rare, and in most cases "they are buying the lot with the house on it and bulldozing," Mr. Akin said.
Bent Tree, Preston Trails homes built in the 1980s give way to bigger
By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - The teardown trend is spreading north of LBJ Freeway to neighborhoods built as recently as the 1980s.
Although such projects are familiar in Park Cities, North Dallas and East Dallas neighborhoods, they are new to Bent Tree and Preston Trails.
These Far North Dallas areas are now considered close in by some residents and homebuilders scouting construction opportunities.
Builder Jerry Stark recently knocked down a 4,800-square-foot Preston Trails house built in 1980 to construct a larger, more up-to-date model.
"The one we are building is 8,000 square feet or more," said Mr. Stark, who usually does re-modeling and building jobs in the Park Cities and North Dallas.
He said the house that was torn down had "very little redeeming qualities," but the location and large lot make the site perfect for a new custom home.
Other builders and homebuyers are coming to the same conclusion.
"What's happened is the availability of affordable building lots in the Park Cities and Preston Hollow has waned," said Ted Wilson, a housing analyst with Dallas-based Residential Strategies.
"You are seeing Park Cities teardowns over $1 million.
"It's causing the builders to scratch their heads and look for other locations," he said.
Residential Strategies has seen a steady increase in tear- down home construction north of LBJ Freeway in Northwood Hills and now in Bent Tree.
Residential Strategies has recorded about a dozen teardown projects in the Northwood Hills neighborhood alone since late last year, Mr. Wilson said.
"In Northeast Tarrant County in Southlake and Colleyville, it's happening, too," he said.
"They are buying ranch-style houses that were built in the 1960s, tearing them down and putting million-dollar homes up.
"It's all about convenience and location."
The location near Preston Road is what attracted Mr. Stark's clients to their teardown project in Preston Trails.
The house that was originally on the lot – once the home of a professional football player – was a quarter-century behind the times, he said.
"It was dreadful – two-thirds of the house was roof," Mr. Stark said.
"What we are building will be a Tudor-style house with stone and a slate roof."
In the next block, Dallas businessman Don Silverman and his family purchased a 4,700-square-foot house built in 1981 and have knocked most of it down.
"Other than the slab and some of the framing, everything is going to be new," Mr. Silverman said. "It would probably have been a better idea to just level it."
He said the new house will be almost double the size of the old and will be "sort of a country French" style.
The original home was "typical 1980s suburban Dallas – almost nondescript."
Mr. Silverman said the large lot, mature trees and location made the project attractive.
"There are lots of older, smaller houses in Bent Tree," he said. "They've knocked down some of them on the golf course.
"It's happening pretty much everywhere."
Akin Custom Homes is constructing a house on the vacant lot next door to the Silvermans on Preston Trail.
"It's a custom job," said George Akin. "The lot had been there for a while, and the house will be about 8,000 square feet."
Such empty parcels are rare, and in most cases "they are buying the lot with the house on it and bulldozing," Mr. Akin said.
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TexasStooge
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Texas Women's Hall of Fame honors two from Dallas
By SUE GOETINCK AMBROSE / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Two Dallas-area women - biologist Dr. Ellen Vitetta and artist Amanda Dunbar - have been named to the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame.
The honor, announced Friday by Gov. Rick Perry, recognizes Texas women who have made significant contributions in areas such as the arts, athletics, business, education, health and leadership.
Dr. Vitetta and Ms. Dunbar join two other inductees. Kathy Foster is co-founder and director of Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos, a Houston center that cares for children in crisis, including those with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Shirley Neeley is the Texas Commissioner of Education.
Dr. Vitetta, an immunologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, said she hopes her award will inspire girls and young women to pursue careers in science.
“I hope they can see this career as a possibility for them that’s rewarding,” she said.
Dr. Vitetta is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has been an advocate for women pursuing scientific and medical careers at UT Southwestern. One of her former graduate students received the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine in 2004.
Her current research projects include development of a vaccine to protect against ricin, a plant toxin considered to be a likely bioterrorism weapon. Past work has included development of therapies that deliver poison to lymphoma and leukemia cells.
Ms. Dunbar, 23, is the youngest inductee to date. The Ontario, Canada, native taught herself to paint two years after her family moved to Allen in 1994. Her teachers and Los Angeles-area art talent scout Ben Valenty quickly identified her as an impressionist prodigy.
After Ms. Dunbar appeared on a 2000 episode of Oprah featuring super-talented children, sales of her work took off. Now her original artwork commands five-figure prices. She has also painted CD covers and her first art book, Guided by Angels, set sales records in its category.
She earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from Southern Methodist University in 2004, after opening her own private gallery in South Side on Lamar. Her primary charity, Amanda’s Angel Alliance, raises money to bolster grade-school art programs.
The Texas Women’s Hall of Fame now has more than 120 members, including first ladies, teachers, scientists, astronauts and athletes. One other scientist from UT Southwestern, the late L. Ruth Guy, was inducted in 1989 for her work on blood banking.
The women will be honored in Austin on October 11.
Biographies and photographs of Texas Women’s Hall of Fame members are on display at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, where the hall is permanently located.
Staff writer Mike Daniel contributed to this report.
By SUE GOETINCK AMBROSE / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Two Dallas-area women - biologist Dr. Ellen Vitetta and artist Amanda Dunbar - have been named to the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame.
The honor, announced Friday by Gov. Rick Perry, recognizes Texas women who have made significant contributions in areas such as the arts, athletics, business, education, health and leadership.
Dr. Vitetta and Ms. Dunbar join two other inductees. Kathy Foster is co-founder and director of Casa de Esperanza de los Ninos, a Houston center that cares for children in crisis, including those with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Shirley Neeley is the Texas Commissioner of Education.
Dr. Vitetta, an immunologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, said she hopes her award will inspire girls and young women to pursue careers in science.
“I hope they can see this career as a possibility for them that’s rewarding,” she said.
Dr. Vitetta is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has been an advocate for women pursuing scientific and medical careers at UT Southwestern. One of her former graduate students received the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine in 2004.
Her current research projects include development of a vaccine to protect against ricin, a plant toxin considered to be a likely bioterrorism weapon. Past work has included development of therapies that deliver poison to lymphoma and leukemia cells.
Ms. Dunbar, 23, is the youngest inductee to date. The Ontario, Canada, native taught herself to paint two years after her family moved to Allen in 1994. Her teachers and Los Angeles-area art talent scout Ben Valenty quickly identified her as an impressionist prodigy.
After Ms. Dunbar appeared on a 2000 episode of Oprah featuring super-talented children, sales of her work took off. Now her original artwork commands five-figure prices. She has also painted CD covers and her first art book, Guided by Angels, set sales records in its category.
She earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from Southern Methodist University in 2004, after opening her own private gallery in South Side on Lamar. Her primary charity, Amanda’s Angel Alliance, raises money to bolster grade-school art programs.
The Texas Women’s Hall of Fame now has more than 120 members, including first ladies, teachers, scientists, astronauts and athletes. One other scientist from UT Southwestern, the late L. Ruth Guy, was inducted in 1989 for her work on blood banking.
The women will be honored in Austin on October 11.
Biographies and photographs of Texas Women’s Hall of Fame members are on display at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, where the hall is permanently located.
Staff writer Mike Daniel contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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Search resumes at Lake Lewisville for missing man
LEWISVILLE, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Authorities on Friday resumed the search for a 42-year-old man who disappeared while boating on Lake Lewisville.
Game wardens were called around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
“They were just enjoying the day, and he took his life jacket off, dove in the water, and didn’t resurface,” said Capt. Scott Haney of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Fort Worth district.
The Lewisville Police Department dive team and game wardens from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department plan to search throughout the day and into the evening if necessary, said Alissa Kaun, a spokeswoman for the town of Hickory Creek.
“We’re assuming he drowned,” Capt. Haney said. “I’ll have game wardens on the lake until we recover the body.”
At least seven people have drowned on North Texas lakes since mid-May.
LEWISVILLE, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Authorities on Friday resumed the search for a 42-year-old man who disappeared while boating on Lake Lewisville.
Game wardens were called around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
“They were just enjoying the day, and he took his life jacket off, dove in the water, and didn’t resurface,” said Capt. Scott Haney of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Fort Worth district.
The Lewisville Police Department dive team and game wardens from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department plan to search throughout the day and into the evening if necessary, said Alissa Kaun, a spokeswoman for the town of Hickory Creek.
“We’re assuming he drowned,” Capt. Haney said. “I’ll have game wardens on the lake until we recover the body.”
At least seven people have drowned on North Texas lakes since mid-May.
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TexasStooge
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- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
Rapes, business robberies up
Dallas: Reported crime down overall this year; violent offenses steady
By HOLLY YAN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Despite continued decreases in overall crime in the first six months of the year, spikes in rapes and business robberies have kept Dallas' number of violent crimes about the same as this time last year.
Overall, crime has fallen 6.5 percent over the same period last year, with the bulk of reductions in nonviolent crimes.
"We're going after gangs, guns and drugs as a strategy, with hopes that residual effects will be crime reductions," said Dallas police First Assistant Chief David Brown.
The numbers this year follow a year of across-the-board crime reductions in 2005. That was the first time in a decade that all types of major crime fell.
At the beginning of this year, Police Chief David Kunkle announced he wanted to reduce homicides by 10 percent and overall crime by 10 percent in 2006. At the halfway mark, the reductions are 6.6 percent and 6.5 percent.
The category with the biggest percentage increase thus far this year is rapes. There were 327 rapes in the first six months of 2006, an increase of 18.9 percent over the same period last year.
Sgt. Patrick Welsh, a supervisor of the sex assault unit, said the higher number might not indicate that more rapes are taking place, but that more rape victims are reporting the crimes.
"I think we're following the national trend, that more people are talking about sexual assault," he said. "They understand it better and report it when it happens."
Chief Brown said the department has tried to increase awareness about rape prevention, including more active use of techniques such as posting educational fliers in clubs and entertainment districts.
Business robberies also saw a sharp increase, up 16.3 percent to 635 through June.
Chief Brown said about a quarter of those robberies took place at convenience stores. He said the department has tried to work with businesses on ways to minimize their risk, such as keeping minimal amounts of cash and keeping windows clear of advertisements.
Nonviolent crimes
Overall, nonviolent crimes – business burglaries, residential burglaries, thefts and auto thefts – are down an average of 7.6 percent.
Nonviolent crimes affect far more people than violent crimes. For example, through June of this year there were about 41,500 nonviolent crimes and 7,500 violent crimes.
Chief Brown said drug activity fuels property crimes, and he credited the department's strategy of targeting "gangs, guns and drugs" and work by the narcotics division for decreases in those areas.
Chief Brown also said Operation Disruption, which inundates crime-infested areas with officers for short periods, continues to disrupt criminal activity. In the past two months, tactical officers have joined Operation Disruption throughout the city.
"Operation Disruption is a key component, and it will continue to be. We have plans to continue as long as we see success," he said. "We don't think it's played out its course."
In February, police changed the policy in which they responded to all business burglary alarms. Instances in which someone pushes a panic button or a security company alerts officers of an actual robbery are exceptions.
The change in policy will not be fully phased in for months. Critics of verified response worried that the policy would encourage more business burglaries, but thus far it does not seem to have had much effect on business burglaries: Compared with this time last year, business burglaries have decreased by 0.4 percent.
Chief Kunkle supported the policy because it would free officers from responding to false alarms, which accounted for about 97 percent of the calls.
Chief Brown said he is particularly pleased with a decrease in auto thefts, which have dropped for three years in a row. He attributes the city's bait car program as a primary factor.
What's next?
City Council member Steve Salazar said he's happy with the overall drop in Dallas crime.
"It's in line with the plan the chief had envisioned ... a commitment to reduce crime in all categories," said Mr. Salazar, who chairs the council's public safety committee.
Mr. Salazar said the key to further crime reductions is adding more officers to the police force. "I think we have taken a positive step ... doing incentives, addressing police pay, and encouraging people to join the force."
But more work needs to be done. Chief Brown said hot spots such as the Vickery Meadows area in northeast Dallas and areas in Pleasant Grove are chronic challenges, despite an increased police presence.
And entertainment districts – areas Chief Kunkle vowed to concentrate on – have benefited from more officers working overtime but continue to have problems.
For the past seven years, Dallas has had the highest crime rate of cities with more than 1 million people. Mr. Salazar said getting rid of that distinction is a top priority.
"Cutting crime and making Dallas a safer city is the No.1 goal," he said.
At the beginning of 2005, Chief Kunkle announced a bold goal of reducing homicides by 20 percent and overall crime by 10 percent. By the year's end, homicides were down 18.9 percent, and overall crime was down 5.3 percent.
Chief Brown said he's glad to see the continued downward trend in 2006, but he said he is not yet satisfied.
"It's going to take a sense of urgency for the second half of this year" to meet Chief Kunkle's goal, he said. "We have to have all hands on deck. Every officer and every unit has to focus on what they can do to reduce crime."
Dallas: Reported crime down overall this year; violent offenses steady
By HOLLY YAN / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Despite continued decreases in overall crime in the first six months of the year, spikes in rapes and business robberies have kept Dallas' number of violent crimes about the same as this time last year.
Overall, crime has fallen 6.5 percent over the same period last year, with the bulk of reductions in nonviolent crimes.
"We're going after gangs, guns and drugs as a strategy, with hopes that residual effects will be crime reductions," said Dallas police First Assistant Chief David Brown.
The numbers this year follow a year of across-the-board crime reductions in 2005. That was the first time in a decade that all types of major crime fell.
At the beginning of this year, Police Chief David Kunkle announced he wanted to reduce homicides by 10 percent and overall crime by 10 percent in 2006. At the halfway mark, the reductions are 6.6 percent and 6.5 percent.
The category with the biggest percentage increase thus far this year is rapes. There were 327 rapes in the first six months of 2006, an increase of 18.9 percent over the same period last year.
Sgt. Patrick Welsh, a supervisor of the sex assault unit, said the higher number might not indicate that more rapes are taking place, but that more rape victims are reporting the crimes.
"I think we're following the national trend, that more people are talking about sexual assault," he said. "They understand it better and report it when it happens."
Chief Brown said the department has tried to increase awareness about rape prevention, including more active use of techniques such as posting educational fliers in clubs and entertainment districts.
Business robberies also saw a sharp increase, up 16.3 percent to 635 through June.
Chief Brown said about a quarter of those robberies took place at convenience stores. He said the department has tried to work with businesses on ways to minimize their risk, such as keeping minimal amounts of cash and keeping windows clear of advertisements.
Nonviolent crimes
Overall, nonviolent crimes – business burglaries, residential burglaries, thefts and auto thefts – are down an average of 7.6 percent.
Nonviolent crimes affect far more people than violent crimes. For example, through June of this year there were about 41,500 nonviolent crimes and 7,500 violent crimes.
Chief Brown said drug activity fuels property crimes, and he credited the department's strategy of targeting "gangs, guns and drugs" and work by the narcotics division for decreases in those areas.
Chief Brown also said Operation Disruption, which inundates crime-infested areas with officers for short periods, continues to disrupt criminal activity. In the past two months, tactical officers have joined Operation Disruption throughout the city.
"Operation Disruption is a key component, and it will continue to be. We have plans to continue as long as we see success," he said. "We don't think it's played out its course."
In February, police changed the policy in which they responded to all business burglary alarms. Instances in which someone pushes a panic button or a security company alerts officers of an actual robbery are exceptions.
The change in policy will not be fully phased in for months. Critics of verified response worried that the policy would encourage more business burglaries, but thus far it does not seem to have had much effect on business burglaries: Compared with this time last year, business burglaries have decreased by 0.4 percent.
Chief Kunkle supported the policy because it would free officers from responding to false alarms, which accounted for about 97 percent of the calls.
Chief Brown said he is particularly pleased with a decrease in auto thefts, which have dropped for three years in a row. He attributes the city's bait car program as a primary factor.
What's next?
City Council member Steve Salazar said he's happy with the overall drop in Dallas crime.
"It's in line with the plan the chief had envisioned ... a commitment to reduce crime in all categories," said Mr. Salazar, who chairs the council's public safety committee.
Mr. Salazar said the key to further crime reductions is adding more officers to the police force. "I think we have taken a positive step ... doing incentives, addressing police pay, and encouraging people to join the force."
But more work needs to be done. Chief Brown said hot spots such as the Vickery Meadows area in northeast Dallas and areas in Pleasant Grove are chronic challenges, despite an increased police presence.
And entertainment districts – areas Chief Kunkle vowed to concentrate on – have benefited from more officers working overtime but continue to have problems.
For the past seven years, Dallas has had the highest crime rate of cities with more than 1 million people. Mr. Salazar said getting rid of that distinction is a top priority.
"Cutting crime and making Dallas a safer city is the No.1 goal," he said.
At the beginning of 2005, Chief Kunkle announced a bold goal of reducing homicides by 20 percent and overall crime by 10 percent. By the year's end, homicides were down 18.9 percent, and overall crime was down 5.3 percent.
Chief Brown said he's glad to see the continued downward trend in 2006, but he said he is not yet satisfied.
"It's going to take a sense of urgency for the second half of this year" to meet Chief Kunkle's goal, he said. "We have to have all hands on deck. Every officer and every unit has to focus on what they can do to reduce crime."
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